Volunteers still needed for collection days at Tesco stores, including Haverhill

Latest news from the Haverhill Echo, haverhillecho.co.uk, @haverhill on Twitter

Steve Barton

Diabetes UK is looking for enthusiastic volunteers to fill the final few spaces at a collection weekend at Tesco stores in Suffolk, including Haverhill, this weekend.

The Big Collection is a nationwide fundraising event for Diabetes UK and 4,800 volunteers are needed to support the weekend taking place in 300 Tesco stores across the UK on 13, 14 and 15 June.

Collectors will be in the Haverhill store from 9am to 6pm on Friday and Saturday and from 10am to 4pm on Sunday.

Thousands of volunteers have already come forward, but with a few days to go Diabetes UK is looking for volunteers who can give one or two hours of their time to collect donations over the weekend.

The collection weekend aims to raise £300,000 to support the 3.2 million people living with diabetes in the UK and help find the further 630,000 who remain undiagnosed with Type 2 diabetes.

Sharon Roberts, Diabetes UK Eastern Regional Manager said: “We are delighted that people in Suffolk have volunteered for the Big Collection weekend, but we still need more volunteers to fill all our spaces.

“If you are shopping at Tesco this weekend, why not give up an hour or two on the same day.

“Our volunteers had great fun last year and this year’s collection takes place at the end of Diabetes Week so it is a great way to inform customers about diabetes while raising money for Diabetes UK.”

The weekend is being organised as part of a major National Charity Partnership between Tesco and Diabetes UK. The partnership aims to support the millions of people who have to live with diabetes every day; help hundreds of thousands of people take action to reduce their risk of Type 2 diabetes; and fund investment into ground-breaking research for a Type 1 vaccine.

Volunteers can collect for however long suits them, from one hour to a full day. The collection will take place from 9am until 6pm on 13 and 14 June and 10am until 4pm on 15 June.

If people are interested in volunteering for the Big Collection weekend they can also contact Gemma Pilgrim email gemma.pilgrim@diabetes.org.uk or call 01376 505247 or email BigCollection@diabetes.org.uk

For further information on the Big Collection and to find your nearest store visit www.diabetes.org.uk/big-collection